Bottle identifying device



Oct. 22, 1957 w COOK 2,810,490

BOTTLE IDENTIFYING DEVICE Filed March 30, 1955 29 /l 28 lillllfll: 22 l T nvwzzvroa. I

112-1" WALTER COOK .PARKER 2. CARTER ATTORNEYS United States Patento BOTTLE IDENTIFYING DEVICE Walter Cook, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 30, 1955, Serial No. 497,857

'4 Claims. (Cl. 2159) My invention relates to identifying devices and more particularly to a device for marking or identifying bottles of medicinal preparations or the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an identifying means adaptable to bottles or the like, with or without stoppers.

Another object is to construct a device that will act as a stopper on which the identifying medium is easily applied or removed without disturbing thecontents of the bottle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described readily adaptable, within reasonable limits, to varied sizes of bottles.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with medicinal preparations that some preparations are harmful when improperly applied or when taken internally. It is therefore imperative that the proper identification be applied so as to prevent an error in the use of the contents of the bottle. It is also manifest that in chemical laboratories it is necessary at times to identify the contents of test tubes, or to change the identification of the contents or the time, at periodic intervals. The device of of my present invention provides a simple, inexpensive means for the purpose for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of one form of device applied to a conventional bottle for medicinal or pharmaceutical preparations.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device illustrating the manner in which the device may be applied over both the stopper and the neck of the bottle, and showing an identifying member slightly different in shape from that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the manner in which the device may be applied directly to the neck of the bottle and encasing the upper bead thereof, and also showing an identifying member of still another shape.

Figure 4 is a side view of the pliable portion of the device, with the identifying member removed.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of the device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top view of the pliable portion shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the pliable portion shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a detail view of one form of identifying member, removed from the unit.

Figure 9 is a side view of a modified form of identifying member adapted for use with a replaceable card shown in phantom.

Figure 10 is a front view of the identifying member shown in Figure 9, with the replaceable card shown in phantom; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross section view of the 'ice pliable portion of the device acting as a stopper in a test tube or beaker.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the device consists essentially of two parts, an attaching member 20, and an identifying member 21.

The attaching member 20 is preferably molded of a soft, pliable, rubberlike material and includes a head portion 22, with an axial opening 23 therein, and a generally cylindrical apron 24 integrally molded with the head portion 22 extending downward from the periphery of the latter. The side wall comprising the apron 24 is preferably tapered in cross section toward the bottom opening of the device, and the apron is made of a suitable rubberlike pliable material for ease in expansion or contraction so as to fit over the neck 25 of a bottle, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or to be inserted as a stopper in the open end of a test tube 26 as shown in Figure 11.

The head portion 22 is preferably made considerably thicker than the apron 24 as shown, to provide sufiicient longitudinal support for the identifying member 21.

The axial opening 23 in the head portion 22 consists of an elongated tubular bore having an enlarged intermediate section 27, adaptable to receive an enlarged portion 28 of a stem 29 forming a part of the identifying member 21. In the form in Figure 1, the upper end of the stem 29 has a flat section 30 of suitable shape to serve as a special identifying member. Said flat section 30 may also have suitable words or other identifying marks inscribed either permanently thereon, or in a manner whereby the identification may be deleted or changed at will. As an alternative, the upper end of the stem 29 may be slotted as shown at 31 in Figure 9, to permit insertion of a separate identifying card 32 shown in phantom in Figures 9 and 10.

In each case, the identifying member is preferably constructed of a rigid material, so that the stem 29 may be readily fitted, or removed from, the opening 23. When in use, the stem is firmly held in place by the enlarged section 28 which engages in the enlarged section 27 in the opening 23.

The construction of the pliable attaching member 20 permits its application over a conventional stopper 33, as shown in Figure 2, or over the bead on the neck 25 of a bottle, as shown in Figure 3. It may also be inserted as a stopper directly in the open end of a test tube, as shown in Figure 11, or the neck of-a bottle. The tubular opening 23 may extend either all the way through the head portion 22, as seen in Figures 2, 5 and 11, or only part way, as seen in Figure 3, so as to avoid any evaporation or escape of the contents of the bottle through the head portion 22.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising in combination an identifying member and an attaching member, said attaching member being made of a pliable, rubberlike material and including a head portion and a generally cylindrical apron extending downward from its periphery, the head portion having an axial opening therein, said identifying member being made of rigid material with a stem portion for engagement in the opening in the head portion of said attaching member, and having identifying means attached to the free end of said stem when the latter is extended from said headportion.

'2. The "structure of claim 1, wherein the "head'portio'n is substantially thicker axially of the device than the lateral thicknees of the apron Walls, and the apron walls aretapereilin cross "sectiontoward the .openlower "end of the device.

3]Tlre "structure of'claim 1,wherein the axial opening in the he'adport'ion has an interior enlargement therein'and the-stem'of the rdentifying unit has a corresponding enlargement thereon, to permitdetach'able fitting engagement-of said stern in said axial opening.

"4. The struc'turenf claim '2, wherein the axial opening 4 in the head portion is closed at -its inner :end so that said head portion and apron form an imperforate seal when used as a Stopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,486 King Jan. 9, 1912 1,945,126 Upjohn Jan. 30, 1934 2,069,942 Cohen Feb. 9, 1937 2,148,196 Falk Feb. 21, 1939 2,639,057 Gronemeyer May 19, 1953 2,656,559 'Wiseman Oct. 27, 1953 

